School Award Recipient

In 2015, the Mariemont City School District launched the Marie Huenefeld Friend of the School Award to recognize individuals in the community who make significant contributions to the school district with their time, service and/or expertise to create a better experience for students. At the June Board of Education meeting, Steve Spooner was officially recognized as the 2023 recipient of the Marie Huenefeld Friend of the School Award.

Steve and his family have been residents of the Mariemont City School District for 35 years. His five children (Michael 2005, Mary 2007, David 2009, Jane 2012 and Chris 2016) all graduated from Mariemont High School, completing a period of 24 straight years that he and his wife Terri had a child in our school district.

Over those two and half decades as a school district parent, Steve volunteered as a member of many support organizations, including the Superintendent’s Advisory

Council, the Mariemont Athletic Boosters, Kiwanis and WizKids, recently concluding his stint as the Kiwanis president.

And while he has been an integral member of all these groups, most of our school district community will probably recognize him for another role he serves, along the sidelines of athletic fields and arts performances.

Steve found a love for photography in high school and utilized a dark room in his parents’ house to grow his hobby. As a student he began taking photographs of Rocky River sports and selling them to local parents, beginning his foray as an accomplished photographer.

In 2007 he transitioned his skillset to Mariemont City Schools where he began attending sporting events, arts performances, graduations, youth sports, special events and more. Through his website mariemontstuff.com, he has made his thousands of images available to purchase, giving easy access to professional photography for any interested student and family member.

In addition to sharing his pictures with families, his work is often featured in district publications and in the student highlight banners hanging outside the arts and athletics wings of Mariemont High School, demonstrating his willingness to support our school district with his talent and time.

We are so thankful to Steve for his dedication to Mariemont City Schools and for helping to preserve these special memories for generations to come.

Where can you find the Class of 2023?

Akron University

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Augustana College

Bluffton University

Bowling Green State University

Butler University

Capital University

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

College of Charleston

Colorado State University

Denison University

DePaul University

Elon University

Florida Golf Coast University

Florida State University

Furman University

Georgia Institute of Technology

High Point University

Indiana University

Miami University

Mount St. Joseph University

Northeastern University

Ohio University

Otterbein University

Pennsylvania State University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Syracuse University

Texas State University

The Ohio State University

University of Alabama

University of Central Florida

University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati Clermont

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Dayton

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Iowa

University of Kansas

University of Kentucky

University of Louisville

University of Mississippi

University of North Carolina

University of Pittsburgh

University of South Carolina

University of Tennessee

University of Wisconsin

Villanova University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

& State University

West Virginia University

Xavier University

Congratulations to the Mariemont High School Class of 2023!

On Sunday, May 28, 2023, Mariemont High School presented 132 seniors to the Board of Education for commencement ceremonies. Mariemont City Schools is proud of the Class of 2023 and wishes them well in their futures after high school.

The Class of 2023…

Will attend 53 different colleges and universities across 21 different states

Earned over $15 million in scholarships

Has 2 members enlisting in the military after graduation

Submitted 613 combined college applications

Was accepted to 141 different institutions

Will see 11 members pursuing employment opportunities after high school

Kelli Flanigan Named Substitute of the Year

Mariemont High School and Mariemont Junior High School substitute Kelli Flanigan has been named the district’s 2022-2023 Substitute of the Year by the Hamilton County Educational Services Center Comprehensive Substitute Solutions.

This school year Kelli has served two long-term intervention specialist substitute positions at both MHS and MJHS. She has an outstanding rapport with students and families alike. Her tremendous dedication to each position, student and learning community is known and appreciated. And her reliability and attention to detail have made her a stand out substitute within Mariemont City Schools.

“Kelli has been an extremely valuable member of our MJHS and MHS faculty this year,” said Mariemont Junior High School principal Rob Polca. “Her talent, commitment and caring demeanor have enabled Kelli to best serve our students, families and faculty. She has saved the day for us so many times this school year. We are grateful to have her within our learning community and I could not imagine not having Kelli’s positive influence this year.”

Congratulations to Kelli and thank you for your dedication to Mariemont City Schools!